Chelsea Commission Approves Bigger MBTA Bus Stop

Traffic and Parking Commission · Meeting of October 7, 2026

Chelsea's Traffic and Parking Commission approved an MBTA redesign for the 3rd and Chestnut streets bus stop and denied five handicap parking requests under a two-spot cap. MBTA Project Manager Tom L. Quattromani Jr. said the stop, serving the 104, 111, 112 and 114 routes, currently fits "just enough space for one full bus and half of another," and the approved design adds a third berth under the Tobin Bridge plus new lighting and a shortened pedestrian crossing. Assistant City Engineer Jorman Moda said the project will likely require removing one Chestnut Street parking space for fire truck access.

The commission denied applicants from 4th Street, Essex Street, Clark Avenue and the Bassett/Reynolds area, citing a rule capping handicap spaces at two per 2,000-square-foot grid; one member called the policy "not fair for nobody," in resident Sandra J. Martinez's words. The board also ordered a Summit Avenue traffic-calming study after a police speed study of roughly 100 vehicles per direction.

In the full story:

• Call to Order and Interim Chair Appointment
• Public Comment: Pedestrian Safety at Shurtleff, Broadway and Marlborough
• Approval of Minutes
• Pine Street Speed Hump Request
• Summit Avenue Traffic Calming
• MBTA Bus Stop Redesign at 3rd and Chestnut Streets
• Handicap Parking Applications and the Two-Spot Rule
• Resident Parking Permit Appeal
• Highland Street Stop Sign Request
• Administrative Items: Parking Program Language and Sign Removal
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 3,091 words

Source: the Traffic and Parking Commission meeting of October 7, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.